As an FM, this used to circulate with frequency, but this was also the common-ish "Thank You Uncle Bob" vinyl boot. KSAN-FM simulcast this with a local TV feed (but this was right before Beta/VCRs became common). Unlike many of the NYE parties (and they were as much private party as concert), they started the 1st set at midnight, so this is technically a 1/1/79 show. Weirdly for a NYE run, the night before was in L.A. Though that potentially brought more cheer to more people. This is the 7th of the 20 (available) NYE shows and one of the best along with '81, '86 and '87. Even if there are no best-of-'78 (or '79) versions, it maintains a high level and is in the top 3 or 4 of all NYEs. It was the last (obviously) of the 6 that were at Winterland (one was not in the Bay Area - or even in Cal!). 5 were at the Kaiser and 6 at Oakland Coliseum. Since Graham's NYE parties were more about having a blowout rather than making music for posterity, it's nice to have an exception - especially in multitrack. The 2nd Set is a serious
1:45 long and then there's the traditional 3rd Set.
First Set. 11min into
Fire on the Mountain is the turnaround where things tighten up.
MaMU flies and so does
FotD. Stagger Lee falters. It's too downtempo - and beware of Bobby's SlidePractice™...and the flash pot! Whether you like
From the Heart of Me or not, this is one of her great renditions.
Sunshine Daydream reinforces how much better the second half of the set became.
Second Set. You need see the vid to appreciate the quality of this
Samson & Delilah. The flames also put
Ramble on Rose alight. Bobby's bud Matt Kelly guests starting on
I Need a Miracle. He's too low in the mix for his solo so Bobby gets out his slide. The rest of the set is mostly partying and fucking around. Kesey "plays" his Thunder Machine during
Drums. It's hard to tell if it was even mic'd to the board. By then the stage is full of guests and disorganized (these shows got pretty crazy in many unexpected ways and there was zilch security sans Willy).
Not Fade has a Cippolina solo and is wayy snoozy. It takes 5 minutes to corral the 12 players (Lee Oscar, Greg Arico) . Billy surrenders his seat for
Around & Around (to eat a fractal) and rather than the usual DonnaSkreech™, for no discernible reason she simply screams as loudly as possible...into the mic. Mayhem.
Third Set. Ostensibly because Bobby was tired of the gang that held up the Days Since Dark Star signage, they launch the first one in 4 years. Bouncy, and there's no rust. There's a short, 2½ min
The Other One inside of it, but Bobby isn't that interested and veers back.
St. Stephen is swirly and punchy and only the 4th in the past year (the 3rd was the night before!). The first half of
Good Lovin' is great. Keith plays an
Itsy Bitsy going into a good
Casey Jones. If you don't believe this
Johnny B. Goode is the hardest Jer ever rocked, check the vid.
We Bid You Goodnight cuts in - there's no complete SBD and it used to be missing even from the AUDs. Those that have it have 20 more seconds than the SBD. It's a wash anyway with about 3 different keys battling.
1st Set: B-
2nd Set: C+
3rd Set: B
Overall = 4 Stars
Highlights:
Friend of the Devil - very well-played
From the Heart of Me - like it or not, one of her best renditions. And check the tranny into>
Sunshine Daydream - not the throwaway capper, here
Samson & Delilah - check vid for proof
Ramble on Rose - smooth
St. Stephen - swirly & punchy
Johnny B. Goode - the one; hardest Jer rocked evah
SOURCES: The
bertha.1791 is assumedly the later master & transfer of the
ashley.1667, from the Bertha DAW, which is partial FM. Of course there's the DVD, the CD set, and also good matrices. The AUDs (all that I checked) are pitched too slow.
